As the FIFA World Cup group stage progresses, 18-year-old soccer prodigy Lamine Yamal will almost certainly not earn a starting spot for Spain in Sunday’s highly anticipated Group H matchup against Saudi Arabia, as the teen star continues working through rehabilitation for a lingering left hamstring injury that has limited his fitness heading into the tournament.
Yamal, one of the most high-profile young talents in global soccer and a key contributor to both Spain’s 2024 European Championship triumph and Barcelona’s La Liga title last season, entered the 2026 World Cup already managing the hamstring issue. He only featured as a late substitute in Spain’s opening group fixture against Cape Verde this week, a contest that ended in a underwhelming 0-0 draw for the European side against the first-time World Cup qualifier.
In an interview with Spanish public broadcaster RTVE, Yamal opened up about his recovery timeline, emphasizing that rushing his return would carry unnecessary risk for both the player and the national team. “I’m fine, I feel good, but it’s still too soon,” Yamal said. “It’s unnecessary to take risks. I’m going through an adaptation process, it’s not the time to play a full match yet. But I can play as many minutes as the coach wants.”
The 18-year-old entered the game against Cape Verde in the 71st minute, replacing a starter to add attacking spark to a stagnant Spanish offense, but he could not break through the Cape Verdean defense to secure three points for La Roja. Following Sunday’s matchup in Atlanta against Saudi Arabia, Spain will move to Guadalajara for a pivotal Group H clash with Uruguay, a match that is widely expected to decide which team tops the group, and a full-fit Yamal is viewed as critical to Spain’s success in that decisive fixture.
Yamal also noted that fellow Spanish winger Nico Williams, who also arrived at the tournament managing an injury, is further along in his recovery than he is. “Physically he’s even better than me,” Yamal said. “We’re not in a rush. We have a great team with top-level players and we have to go step by step.”
Despite his young age, Yamal has already established himself as one of the biggest drawcards of this World Cup, with his global popularity particularly visible on the ground in the United States, where the tournament is being hosted. A massive promotional billboard featuring Yamal’s image dominates the skyline outside Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the site of Spain’s opening match of the tournament. When asked about his outsized popularity at just 18, the teen star said he has acclimated to the attention and remains focused on performing for fans. “I’m taking it naturally, it’s something I’m used to,” Yamal said. “I know what I represent both outside of Spain and in Spain. I try to always give my best, that’s what the fans want. If you have your image on that building, it’s because you can do things on the field that people like, things that excite them when they see you play.”